Team India captain Virat Kohli said that he needed a break to recover from some niggles ahead of a busy schedule from April.

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India Today Web Desk

Mumbai

March 13, 2018

UPDATED: March 14, 2018 08:47 IST

Virat Kohli has been rested for the Nidahas Trophy T20I tri-series. (Photo: BCCI)

HIGHLIGHTS

Virat Kohli has been rested for the Nidahas Trophy involving Sri Lanka and Bangladesh

Kohli had taken some time off for his marriage back in December of last year

Kohli said he had a few niggles and he has to be cautious with his workload

India captain Virat Kohli is currently 'chilling' in his time off from the game and he deserves every bit of it after a strenuous time on the field over the last couple of years.

Kohli has been rested for the Nidahas Trophy T20I tri-series and is currently enjoying a bit of a break after the long tour of South Africa. Speaking at an event in Mumbai, he said that he had a few niggles and he has to be cautious with his workload.

"Physically I had a few niggles, I am just getting over those. The workload has started to disagree with me a little bit. I have to be very careful about how I go forward with my body, my mind, my cricket," Kohli said.

"It is just nice to be resting for a bit, relaxing, (it is) very important to have these times as well and I am just embracing it, enjoying all the downtime. Trying to recoup and recover and (will be) on the road again soon," added the Indian captain.

Before this, Kohli took some time off in December 2017 for his marriage after playing 9 Tests, 26 ODIs and 10 T20 Internationals in 2017 and amassing 2818 international runs including 10 hundreds.

Today we have promised each other to be bound in love for ever. We are truly blessed to share the news with you.This beautiful day will be made more special with the love and support of our family of fans & well wishers. Thank you for being such an important part of our journey. pic.twitter.com/aobTUwMNAK

Very few would disagree with the decision to take some time off as a hectic schedule follows for him from April. To start things off, he will have to lead the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier League and after that India will play Afghanistan in a one-off Test match. After that, the team will travel to Ireland to play a two-match T20I series. What follows, is perhaps Kohli's toughest test both as a captain and player till date.

India will play three T20Is and ODIs each against England and that will be followed by a five-match Test series.

This is where Kohli will be tested all over again. Yes! India displayed their capabilities in South Africa, where they lost the Test series 2-1 but went on to win the six-match ODI series 5-1 and T20I series 2-1 under the leadership of the Delhi cricketer. Not only that, Kohli ended the tour scoring 871 runs across three formats. In the six ODIs, he scored a record-breaking 558 runs including three hundreds. He was also the leading scorer with 286 runs in the Test series.

But his abilities to play swing bowling and struggling in England last time is well documented and he will look to not only answer his critics, but also show that India can win a Test series in England and Australia -- which follows towards the turn of the year. For that, he needs to be not only mentally fresh but also physically in the right place.

Therefore, a break was a much needed one for the Indian captain. He and his fans would now hope that come the IPL, he will be in full flow and will follow that up in the England tour.